Mechatronic aspects of an innovativetwo-axle railway vehicle
Time: Fri 2023-06-02 10.00
Location: D37, Lindstedtsvägen 5, Stockholm
Video link: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/66930256556
Language: English
Subject area: Vehicle and Maritime Engineering
Doctoral student: Rocco Libero Giossi , Väg- och spårfordon samt konceptuell fordonsdesign
Opponent: Professor Tian Xiang Mei,
Supervisor: Professor Sebastian Stichel, Järnvägsgruppen, JVG, VinnExcellence Center for ECO2 Vehicle design, Väg- och spårfordon samt konceptuell fordonsdesign
QC 230510
Abstract
Within the Shift2Rail research program the goals for a sustainable growth of the railway sector are set. Among these are substantial reduction of Life Cycle Costs, improved reliability and energy efficiency, the reductionof noise emissions, and the achievement of full interoperability of the rolling stock. Therefore, a new generation of running gear is envisioned.
An innovative two-axle vehicle that can reduce weight, initial investmentand maintenance cost, and emissions is proposed for a metro line system. The vehicle proposed will have only one suspension step. To further reducethe weight and incorporate the otherwise missing anti-roll bar, a compositematerial connection frame is introduced. The two-axle configuration suffers from poor ride comfort, due to the lack of a second suspension step acting as filter, and from poor steering capability, due to the long distance between wheelsets. Active suspensions are therefore introduced to improve both ride comfort and steering capability.
This Ph.D. thesis showcases the key activities undertaken during the developmentof the innovative vehicle, building a simulation framework where the vehicle can be virtually tested. Several modelling environments are used such as: SIMPACK for vehicle dynamics, Abaqus for finite elements modelling, Simscape for hydraulic physics simulations, and Simulink for control logic development. During the Ph.D. time two elements of the mechatronic vehicle have been designed and manufactured, i.e. the carbon fiber connection frame and the steering active suspension. The two components models have been experimentally validated and introduced into the simulation environment. A ride comfort and a wheelset steering control strategy have been designed to overcome the limitations introduced by the two-axle configuration. The proposed solutions aim at being applicable in the whole operational scenario of the innovative vehicle.
The present work emphasises the possibility of introducing innovative mechatronic solutions as an alternative to standard bogie solutions aiming at reducing costs and emissions, blurring the boundaries between academic view and possible industrial applications.